Operations, Documents and Accident Reporting
This domain ties the paperwork of flight to the conduct of flight. Know the documents that must be carried or available - certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness, licences, journey log, and where applicable the operations manual, mass and balance record and maintenance release - and who is responsible for ensuring they are on board. Understand the role of the pilot in command as the final authority for the flight, including the duty to ensure the aircraft is airworthy and the flight can be conducted safely before departure.
Operational concepts include fuel and oil reserves, mass and balance limits, performance planning, and the carriage of passengers and cargo within approved limits. For reporting, distinguish the accident from the serious incident, know that occurrences must be notified promptly to the appropriate authority, and understand the purpose of investigation: prevention, not blame. Know that the state of occurrence, state of registry, state of operator and state of manufacture may all have roles in an investigation.
Traps: questions that treat a serious incident as an accident (or vice versa); items that imply the investigator's report assigns fault; and questions where the pilot's duty to report is confused with the operator's internal reporting. Another frequent trap is forgetting that the pilot in command's authority is paired with accountability - an unlawful instruction does not transfer responsibility.
Rule of thumb: if it could have been an accident but wasn't, it is likely a serious incident - and both are reportable occurrences, so notify promptly and preserve evidence.
Worked example: An aircraft lands safely after a near-collision with terrain that required an abrupt avoidance manoeuvre and no damage or injury resulted. This is best classified as a serious incident, not an accident, because there was no death, serious injury or substantial damage - but it is still a reportable occurrence.